Category Archives: reading

What Happens in the Reader’s Mind

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

“A writer’s talking about what he or she is capable of, like a writer’s talking about the worth of his or her own work, is a pretty good way for that writer to start sounding like a pompous poseur. Above … Continue reading →

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My Favorite Girls Dressed as Boys – Fantasy Edition

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Fantasy novels are rife with girls dressed up as boys. I’m not sure if it’s because there are so many female fantasy readers versus so many male fantasy heroes, or if it’s a result of a common romance-adventure trope sliding … Continue reading →

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Why No, My Face Is NOT Red

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Back in December, I was involved in a discussion about (I paraphrase) how to get used to using “naughty” words in your writing, when they weren’t in your everyday vocabulary.“Naughty” words should be treated just like any other words, as … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, reading, writing | 2 Comments

Worthy Transgressions

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

People have been talking for a while about how there’s more erotica being published in both print and electronic formats, and how more people are reading erotica and talking about it, and how erotica is getting more and more explicit … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, reading, writing, writing craft | 4 Comments

Black Wine opening

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I really love the opening to Candas Jane Dorsey’s Black Wine (1997). # There’s a scarred, twisted old madwoman in a cage in the courtyard. The nurse throws a crust at her as he passes, therefore so does the girl. … Continue reading →

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Looking Backwards

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve been looking at the statistics for this blog, and selected some of the year’s most-visited posts for your delectation. My Favorite Girls Dressed As Boys – romance edition. Nifty Stuff That Ought To Be In Romance Novels.Normative Heterosexuality and … Continue reading →

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Nifty Werewolf Books

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

If you have a chance, check out Werewolves At Home, a webcomic tie-in to The Moonlight Mistress. This is a list of werewolf books that I’ve liked a lot or had recommended to me. Suggestions welcome! Benighted (alternate title: Bareback) … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, recommendations, sf/f, werewolves | 4 Comments

Insta-Love

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What are your feelings on Love At First Sight? Usually, I can’t believe in it. If it happens in a story, usually I don’t want to read any more. If the characters already know what they want, before I’ve seen … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading, romance novels | 8 Comments

Grit Under My Boots

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

If I’m reading a historical novel, or for that matter, a science fiction or fantasy novel, or a romance, or any other genre, I want to feel the grit underneath my boots. Even in a shiny futuristic city where everyone … Continue reading →

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Three Takes on the Marriage of Convenience

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I recently read, in succession, three new books by Mary Balogh, a perennial favorite of mine in historical romance. The three books about three sisters each featured a Marriage of Convenience plot, and each one approached that basic plot from … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 4 Comments